Ferry Service Starts at Closed Ohio River Bridge Created by kblakeslee on 3/31/2014 3:52:54 PM

MADISON, Ind. (AP) _ A jet boat that normally takes people on Ohio River thrill rides is being used to ferry commuters at the site of the closed bridge between Madison, Ind., and Milton, Ky.

The free ferry trips by Rockin' Thunder Jet Boat Rides started Monday morning near where the U.S. 421 bridge has been closed since a March 11 accident that hurt a man working on the replacement bridge.

Rockin' Thunder Capt. Paul Nicholson tells The Madison Courier that its phone started ringing soon after the closure with people looking for ways to avoid driving about 25 miles to the nearest alternate bridge.

The city of Madison is paying the ferry costs for now. Highway officials say the new half-mile Milton-Madison Bridge could open in mid-April.